The Uninvited Guest at the Proposal, System Alert at Maximum!

At the proposal ceremony for Twin Emperors' premiere, the atmosphere had reached a fever pitch.

Confetti rained down from above. Jian Ning had just shouted, "I do," and was about to throw himself into Huo Si's arms to savor the sweet moment.

However, just as his fingers brushed the hem of Huo Si's clothes—

[Bzzz... Bzzzz...]

The system in Jian Ning's mind suddenly emitted a shrill electrical buzz, followed by a string of red garbled warnings:

[Warning! Warning! High-dimensional energy intrusion!]

[Detected "Protagonist Halo" covering the entire venue! Host, activate defense mode immediately!]

Before Jian Ning could react, he felt as if the air around them had frozen for an instant.

The audience, who had been screaming and cheering moments ago, suddenly fell somewhat quiet. Everyone's gazes involuntarily shifted away from the perfect couple onstage and turned in unison toward the banquet hall entrance.

A man stood there, backlit.

He wore a pure white suit. His features were so exquisite they seemed almost unreal, and his entire body radiated a gentle glow that made people instinctively like him and want to draw close after just one glance.

He clearly had done nothing. He was merely standing there, yet it was as though he had become the center of the world.

Even the host, who had been so moved he was on the verge of tears moments ago, stared blankly at him and murmured, "So... so perfect..."

What the hell? Who's this? Does he come with his own spotlight effect?

Why does everyone look like they've been put under a spell? System, could this be the original novel's protagonist?

A chill ran down Jian Ning's spine. This was the first time he had experienced such bizarre pressure in this world.

System: [Ding! Target locked: Lin Yu.]

[Identity: The original novel's legitimate shou protagonist, later awakened as a heartthrob gong. He carries the "S-Rank Heartthrob Capture System." His mission: reclaim his Child of Fortune—Huo Si.]

[Current status: Releasing "Basic Charm Aura." Those present with weak willpower—passersby whose favorability is below 60—will unconditionally develop affection for him.]

Jian Ning's heart skipped a beat.

Reclaim Huo Si?

He instinctively tightened his grip on Huo Si's hand and turned to look at the man beside him.

Huo Si remained on one knee, but his brows were tightly furrowed. He raised a hand and pressed his temple as though he were uncomfortable. A trace of confusion flashed through his eyes, only to be quickly replaced by a cold, vicious hostility.

"Mr. Huo?" Jian Ning called anxiously.

Huo Si shook his head, and his gaze refocused on Jian Ning's face. His grip on Jian Ning's hand suddenly tightened, hard enough to hurt.

"I'm fine." Huo Si's voice was slightly hoarse, as if squeezed through clenched teeth. "It's just... noisy."

The man in white—Lin Yu—had already begun walking toward them with elegant steps.

He ignored the security guards throughout the venue, ignored Jian Ning as well, and walked straight up to Huo Si.

"Ah Si."

Lin Yu spoke, his voice clear and pleasant like a mountain stream. "Long time no see. I'm back."

That single "Ah Si" sounded utterly natural, as though they shared decades of deep affection.

The media reporters around them seemed to have suddenly recalled something and began snapping photos wildly.

"Oh my god! Is that Lin Yu? The piano prodigy who went to Vienna for further study three years ago?"

"I heard he and President Huo used to be very close!"

"Could this be... the white moonlight returning, and the substitute having to step aside?"

Listening to the gossip around him, Jian Ning was so angry he wanted to laugh.

White moonlight? Another white moonlight?

Huo Si, exactly how many white moonlights do you have in this lifetime? Could you get them all wholesale at once?

But Jian Ning soon realized something was wrong.

Because the way Huo Si looked at Lin Yu was not the gaze one gave a lover. It was an... intensely physical disgust, as though he were desperately resisting some instinct.

Huo Si rose to his feet and shielded Jian Ning behind him, staring coldly at Lin Yu.

"Who are you? I don't know you."

The entire venue erupted.

Yet the smile on Lin Yu's face did not crack in the slightest. He looked at Huo Si with the absolute certainty of someone looking at a child throwing a tantrum.

"Ah Si, stop making trouble. I know you're angry with me. I left without saying goodbye back then, but I've returned now. I won't leave again."

As he spoke, he actually reached out, intending to touch Huo Si's face.

Just as his fingertips were about to make contact—

Smack!

A hand shot out from nowhere and viciously slapped Lin Yu's hand away.

It was not Huo Si.

It was Jian Ning.

Jian Ning stood in front of Huo Si like a little leopard guarding its food, still holding the microphone that had just been used for the proposal.

He looked Lin Yu up and down, then suddenly raised the microphone and let out an exceptionally loud, exceptionally mood-destroying—

"Bleurgh—"

The entire venue fell deathly silent.

The bizarre heartthrob atmosphere from moments ago was instantly shattered by that very real retching sound.

Clutching his chest, Jian Ning looked at Huo Si with an expression of agony.

"Husband, who is this guy? Why does he smell like... aged green tea that's been fermenting for three thousand years? It's making me want to throw up the French meal I just ate!"

A crack finally appeared in Lin Yu's perfect expression. "You..."

Jian Ning gave him no chance to speak. Using the Gossip System's Gossip Radar, he launched the first wave of his counterattack.

"And Mr. Lin, you said you just came back from Vienna? But how come I heard... that last month, you were still at some 'private club' in Thailand, playing mahjong with three rich ladies and losing even your underwear?"

System notification: [Ding! Gossip successfully deployed! The "Heartthrob Aura" has been struck by the "Social Death Aura" and is weakening...]

Lin Yu's expression changed instantly.

How did he know?!

Jian Ning sneered inwardly.

A Heartthrob Capture System, huh? An aura, huh?

In front of my Gossip System, you're just running around naked!

You want to steal my husband? I'll make your reputation collapse in the first episode!

"Huo Si, let's go." Jian Ning grabbed Huo Si's hand, his face full of disgust. "The air here is bad. It's not good for your health."

Seeing Jian Ning's explosive fighting spirit, the foggy sensation in Huo Si's mind miraculously dissipated.

He wrapped an arm around Jian Ning's waist, not even sparing Lin Yu a glance, and announced to the entire venue:

"I'll only say this once."

"My only lover is Jian Ning."

"As for this irrelevant person..." Huo Si shot the security guards a cold look. "Throw him out."

Lin Yu stood where he was, watching the two leave. A venomous gleam flashed in his eyes.

System, what's going on? Why wasn't Huo Si charmed?

A cold voice replied in his mind: There is high-dimensional energy interference around the target. Host, it seems that this time... you've encountered an opponent. Since the soft approach won't work, initiate Plan B—resource plunder.

Inside the nanny van.

The atmosphere was far from relaxed.

Huo Si had been holding Jian Ning's hand tightly the entire time, his brows deeply furrowed.

Jian Ning could feel that Huo Si's palm was covered in cold sweat.

"Mr. Huo, just now... were you feeling unwell?" Jian Ning asked carefully.

That guy's system really is powerful. It could directly attack Huo Si's mind?

Huo Si closed his eyes, his voice somewhat weary.

"The moment I saw him, it felt like there was a voice in my head forcing me... to feel affection for him."

"That feeling... was disgusting."

Jian Ning's heart ached terribly.

He leaned over, hugged Huo Si, and gently patted his back.

"It's okay, it's okay now. That was sorcery! We're materialists, we're not afraid of him!"

"From now on, whenever he appears, I'll be responsible for cursing him away! My mouth has been blessed, you know!"

Huo Si opened his eyes and looked at the little guy in his arms, still babbling away. His gaze gradually softened.

"Mm. I'll rely on you."

"Mrs. Huo."

Jian Ning's old face reddened.

"We haven't even gotten our marriage certificate yet... why are you calling me Mrs.?"

"We'll get it tomorrow." Huo Si's tone allowed no argument.

Just as Jian Ning was about to agree, the system suddenly displayed a three-page-long task list.

[Ding! Long-term main quest activated: Tycoon Family Defense Battle!]

[Task One: Prevent Lin Yu from entering Huo Group. He is preparing to parachute in as vice president.]

[Task Two: At the upcoming International Film Festival this month, defeat the capital backing Lin Yu and win Best Actor.]

[Task Three: Upgrade the system to version 5.0, unlock the "Reverse Charm" function, and completely crush Lin Yu's system.]

[Current progress: 0%. The road ahead is long. Host, prepare for a prolonged battle.]

Jian Ning sucked in a sharp breath as he looked at the lengthy list.

Parachuting in as vice president?

International Best Actor?

Looks like... I'll be very busy from now on.

He tightened his grip on Huo Si's hand, blazing determination burning in his eyes.

If it's going to be a prolonged battle, then bring it on!

You want to steal my money and my man? Dream on!